July 10 - Update
- Councillor Nunziata
- Jul 10, 2020
- 9 min read
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
With the City's release of location-based data on where individuals with COVID-19 live in Toronto, we have learned that there are elevated numbers of cases in York South-Weston and other parts of northwest Toronto. I have been advocating at City Council and to provincial representatives for support to bring a mobile testing clinic to our community. In addition to the letter I sent to Premier Ford, I have asked Councillor Joe Cressy, Chair of the Toronto Board of Health, to support my request. I'd like to thank Councillor Cressy for writing to the Ontario Minister of Health and the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health with the request to bring a mobile COVID-19 testing clinic to northwest Toronto. Please click here to view a copy of his letter. Permit Parking Renewal notices have been mailed to residents. Permit holders can renew their parking permit without the renewal notice by entering their licence plate number at http://toronto.ca/parking. Contact the Permit Parking Office with questions on Monday to Friday, from 8:30 AM to 8 PM at 416-392-7873. As we continue to move ahead with reopening, all local restaurants and bars currently without outdoor patio space are encouraged to register for the CafeTO program to start planning and learn more about innovative new patio configurations. Find out more and register today at: http://toronto.ca/CafeTO A survey on the ActiveTO quiet streets route is now open. The goal of ActiveTO is to give people the space to maintain physical distancing while outside in the community. Share your thoughts on Toronto's quiet streets here. The City is coordinating opportunities for residents, community members and grassroots groups to provide input to the Toronto Office of Recovery and Rebuild Consultations. It is important for our York South-Weston community to make sure its needs and concerns are taken into consideration in the city's recovery efforts. There are several ways to provide your input: · One on One Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/torecovery · Group Discussion link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TOrecovery-group · Share your story: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TOrecovery-group · Written submission/letter to the Toronto Office of Recovery and Rebuild (TORR): Address letters to Toronto Office of Recovery and Rebuild, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, 10th Floor East Tower, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2N2 and e-mail them to RecoveryRebuild@toronto.ca (Please cc: lnicholson@socialplanningtoronto.org in your email to TORR so that your feedback will also be included in data summary to the City.) Webpage link: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/torr_consults_formats For the latest updates from Metrolinx on the Eglinton Crosstown, please click here. Please note the following new construction notices: Keele St / Strathnairn Ave: Toronto Hydro Electrical Work Black Creek Dr / Trethewey Dr: Watermain Replacement Industry St: Watermain Replacement Sincerely, Frances _______________________________________________________
City of Toronto weekend update on services, amenities and ActiveTO
The City of Toronto continues to safely and gradually reopen services and amenities for everyone to enjoy this summer. Residents and visitors heading outside this weekend are reminded to adhere to Toronto Public Health’s advice to wash hands often, stay within their social circle of no more than 10 people, avoid crowds, practise physical distancing, and wear a face covering or mask in all indoor public spaces.
Masks or face coverings are now required in all indoor public spaces. The mandatory mask or face covering bylaw exempts those who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons, children under the age of two, and other accommodations.
Enforcement and restricted evening parking at beaches
Over the last several weekends, the City has seen a significant increase in the number of people at Toronto beaches late into the evening who are not practising physical distancing, or who are setting up DJ equipment, lighting bonfires, drinking excessively and leaving large amounts of litter behind.
Starting today, parking restrictions will be in place at Toronto beaches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Parking restrictions will be in place at the following beaches starting at 7 p.m. on Friday:
· Marie Curtis Park · Humber Bay West Park · Cherry Beach
Parking at Bluffers Park will close at 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Toronto Police will be present at all parking lot entrances. Vehicles leaving beach parking lots after 7 p.m. will be able to do so freely.
Bylaw officers, Toronto police and Toronto Fire will have a highly visible presence at beaches and parking lots, to ensure that crowds and bonfires and other prohibited activities, such as fireworks, do not occur or are dealt with quickly should they occur. Parking enforcement will also have a significant presence this weekend, with tagging and towing of illegally parked vehicles in the vicinity of beaches where parking is restricted.
Bonfires and the consumption of alcohol are not permitted in parks, beaches or public spaces. Organized parties involving DJs, including amplification of sound, are also prohibited. The City has created additional signage about alcohol consumption and littering in parks. Bylaw enforcement officers and Toronto Police will issue tickets related to the consumption of alcohol and bonfires, with fines of up to $300. Fines for littering can be up to $500. If a litter bin is full, residents are asked to take their garbage with them so it can be disposed of properly. Any overflowing bins or litter hot spots should be reported to 311.
City pools and splash pads
Torontonians can cool off at all of the City’s 140 splash pads and 56 outdoor swimming pools that are now open, with the exception of Earlscourt Park/Giovanni Caboto Pool which is undergoing repairs. The City’s 100 wading pools continue to open on a location-by-location basis. In order to allow for physical distancing, the capacity at outdoor pools will be significantly reduced to 25 per cent. Swimmers will be limited to 45-minute sessions to allow for cleaning. Full details are available at toronto.ca/swim.
Beaches
Toronto beaches are open, including the four Toronto Island Park beaches. Lifeguards supervise swim areas from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. Rouge Valley Beach remains closed. For more information on the City’s beaches visit toronto.ca/beaches.
It can be unsafe to swim, even at designated swimming beaches, for 48 hours after a rainfall due to the possible presence of high levels of bacteria that could pose a risk to human health. Water quality reports for local beaches are available at toronto.ca/health/swimsafe/index.htm.
City parks
Most amenities in City parks are now open. Playgrounds and outdoor exercise equipment remain closed. As COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community, residents visiting a beach or park must practise physical distancing and avoid crowding.
The City's outdoor sport and multi-use fields are now open for training and permits will be issued to organizations for the remainder of the 2020 summer season.
Toronto Island Park public ferry and beaches
The public ferry service recently resumed operations at 50 per cent capacity with COVID-19 guidelines and procedures in place to protect passengers and staff. Tickets are limited to 5,000 per day. Visitors must purchase tickets online in advance at toronto.ca/ferry. Passengers are required to wear masks or face coverings. To reduce crowding, visitors are encouraged to travel outside of peak times of 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (from the ferry terminal to the island), and 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. for the return trip.
Lifeguards returned to the four Toronto Island Park swimming beaches on July 1. Services and amenities that are open at Toronto Island Park include washrooms, a splash pad, a first aid station, William Meany Maze, some food and beverage outlets and disc golf. Other Toronto Island Park public and commercial amenities, including Centreville, park playgrounds and boat rentals, remain closed under the current Province of Ontario emergency orders.
Public washroom facilities
Park washrooms are open to the public. In addition, the City has opened a number of facilities with showers, washrooms, and drinking water for all individuals in need of these services. More details including health guidelines for washrooms are available on the City Services webpage. Residents using public washrooms should maintain a distance of two metres or six feet from others at all times while waiting in line and wash hands or use hand sanitizer. It is also recommended that masks or face coverings are worn, especially when physical distancing is difficult.
ActiveTO road closures, cycling network and Quiet Streets
The following ActiveTO major road closures will be in place this weekend, from Saturday, July 11 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, July 12 at 11 p.m.:
· Lake Shore Boulevard West (eastbound lanes only) from Windermere Avenue to Stadium Road. As a result, the eastbound Gardiner Expressway off ramp to Lake Shore Boulevard West (exit #146) will also be closed
· Lake Shore Boulevard East (eastbound lanes only) from Leslie Street to just south of Woodbine Avenue (Kew Beach Avenue)
· Bayview Avenue from Front Street East to Rosedale Valley Road, and River Street from Gerrard Street East to Bayview Avenue
Residents planning to use these roads should access them by bike or as a pedestrian as nearby parking is limited and there is no on site parking available. Parking lots at Sunnyside Park, Budapest Park and Sir Casimir Gzowski Park will be closed all weekend during ActiveTO closures. Overnight parking is not permitted in these lots and any vehicles should be moved before midnight on Friday night.
More than 60 kilometres of Quiet Streets are available to local residents throughout the city this weekend. More information on ActiveTO, including an online map of all locations, is available at http://www.toronto.ca/activeTO. Curblane closures will be in place this weekend to accommodate new cafés/patios for CaféTO locations throughout the city.
St. Lawrence Market
The St. Lawrence Market continues to operate with enhanced precautions under the advisement of Toronto Public Health. The South Market is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Saturday Farmers’ Market indoor and outdoor areas are open weekly from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Sunday Antique Market remains closed until further notice.
The use of a face mask or face covering is required at the St. Lawrence Market Complex and entrance screenings are conducted for customers and all personnel entering the market. Please remember to bring your face covering for your trip and wear it at all times at the St. Lawrence Market Complex. Customers are reminded that even when wearing a mask or face covering, keeping physical distance from others and washing your hands often are the best ways to help stop the spread of COVID-19. For more information visit stlawrencemarket.com.
The City of Toronto, at the direction of City Council, requested and has now received a new Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) from the Province of Ontario that will help ease zoning restrictions on outdoor patios while allowing for expanded patios on private property, including parking areas. More information can be found in the news release.
The City of Toronto is entering its third week in Stage 2 of the provincial reopening framework. Over the past two weeks, great progress has been made – helping people get active, businesses reopening, gradually resuming City operations, and exploring new, safe ways to offer services. A list of Stage 2 accomplishments can be found on the City website.
The City of Toronto has launched a new online Business Licences & Permits Application so businesses can apply for new licences and permits virtually. The new application process allows business owners or operators requiring new licences or permits to fill out an application, submit documentation, and complete payment in one convenient online space.
The online application is one of the many new tools that will be vital in the safe restart of City services. It pivots what was once face-to-face to a completely online process – reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission and creating new process efficiencies within the city.
To access the online application, applicants can select the licence or permit they are applying for on the toronto.ca Permits and Licences webpage, review the list of requirements, and an application link will be available on the specific licence or permit webpage. Licensing staff are available by phone at 416-392-6700 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday to assist business owners and operators with licensing questions. For more information, please see the news release.
The proposed plan anticipates that the improved speed, reliability and increased capacity of the new priority bus-only lanes will result in a faster and more reliable commute, which will improve access to employment, healthcare and community services, as well as transit equity and inclusion of Neighborhood Improvement Areas for residents.
The TTC’s 5-Year Service Plan & 10-Year Outlook Opens in new window released in December 2019, outlined a proposal to explore priority bus-only lanes and other service-enhancing measures on five of its busiest corridors. The five corridors, which had a combined, pre-COVID-19 ridership of approximately 220,000 passengers per weekday, include:
· Jane Street from Eglinton Avenue to Steeles Avenue
· Dufferin Street from Dufferin Gate to Wilson Avenue
· Steeles Avenue West from Yonge Street to Pioneer Village Subway Station
· Finch Avenue East from Yonge Street to McCowan Road
· Eglinton Avenue East/Kingston Road/Morningside Avenue from Kennedy Subway Station to the University of Toronto, Scarborough
· Lawrence East (East of Victoria Park to Rouge Hills Drive) was subsequently added as the sixth priority corridor
More information can be found in the news release.
For the latest updates from the City of Toronto, please click here.
For the latest updates from the Federal Government, please click here.
For the latest updates from the Province of Ontario, please click here.
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